KENT COUNTY -- A common contract being considered by several area school districts and employee unions got unanimous board approval Monday in Godwin Heights, while the Grandville board and Byron Center board and staff also passed the pact.

The 1-year deal includes a wage freeze and union health insurance concessions, while school boards promise not to privatize any unionized jobs.

"There's more important things both sides can be working on instead of sitting across a table and beating each other up," said Roderick VanOeveren, board trustee. "(The contract) is kind of cut-and-dried. It's a win-win for everybody.

"Would we have liked to see more (concessions)? Sure. Everybody gave some."

With 16 of 21 Kent County school districts bargaining new contracts this year, and state funding cuts expected to create huge budget deficits, a model negotiated over the past several months with the Kent County Education Association is being circulated.

The deal would freeze pay at current rates, though staff still would get a "step" increase based on longevity. It also would set a monthly health insurance contribution of $65 for teachers and $38 for support staff, with a $100/$200 (single/family) deductible and $10 office visit copay for teachers.

Currently, Grand Rapids Public Schools is the only district in Kent County where employees contribute to the cost of their health care benefits. No Ottawa County teachers do.

The common contract will take effect only if more than half of the negotiating districts sign it by next Monday. Districts and unions that do not sign the voluntary deal will bargain their own contracts locally.

Jon Felske, Godwin's superintendent, said the deal "helps us move on and prepare for next school year."

He declined to comment on specifics until after other area districts consider the pact next week.

Godwin's two employee unions were set to vote Tuesday on the contract, he said.

Felske also is chief of Wyoming Public Schools, where acceptance of the deal is less certain. The school board next meets Monday.

BY THE NUMBERS

Details of a common school contract being considered by several Kent County districts

• Wage freeze on base pay, though employees will get "step" increases based on years of service.

• The equivalent of a 1 percent raise will be put in an annuity upon the employee's retirement.

• Teachers will contribute $65 per month to health insurance premiums, and support staff will pay $38 per month.

• Teachers' health coverage will have a $100/$200 (single/family) deductible and a $10 office visit co-pay.

• The pact is for one year, during which the district agrees not to privatize any union jobs

"I think it was an easy out for (KCEA) and the district," Wondergem said. "I would have hoped we would have put more energy into working with the union to get them to understand our issues within Grandville.

"We've got budget challenges and we're going to continue to cut. I'm just looking for the union to say 'I hear you' and I didn't see that. It wasn't enough."

Jill Carpenter, president of the teachers' union in Grandville, agreed that cost savings in the contract "is still not going to be enough if Lansing can't fix the funding issues."

"We really can't wait for Lansing any longer," Carpenter said. "Their best answer seems to be to solve the problem on the backs of teachers or cutting programs.

"One of the things we're saying with this is we don't need Lansing to legislate for us. We can work with our administrators."